Erie County has no separate exotic-pet ordinance because New York State law controls. Environmental Conservation Law Section 11-0512 bans keeping wild animals as pets and requires a state permit for wolves, big cats, venomous reptiles, and other dangerous wildlife.
Possession of exotic and wild animals in Erie County is governed by New York State law, not a county ordinance. Environmental Conservation Law Section 11-0512 makes it unlawful to knowingly possess, harbor, sell, or import any wild animal for use as a pet, and provides that no person may possess a live wolf, coyote, fox, skunk, raccoon, venomous reptile, or other dangerous wildlife except under a state license or permit. The statute exempts licensed zoos, USDA exhibitors, and veterinarians. Penalties run up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for later offenses. Individual municipalities may add their own bans, but the statewide ECL 11-0512 prohibition applies countywide. The Health Department's related role is limited to rabies-vector wildlife.
Illegally keeping a prohibited wild or exotic animal violates ECL Sec. 11-0512 and is enforced by NY DEC, with fines up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for later offenses, each animal counted separately.
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